It’s been three months since Hurricane Sandy made landfall and the American Red Cross is still on the scene providing food, emotional support and long-term assistance to those affected by the climatic event. To date, the Red Cross has deployed more than 16,800 disaster workers to help those affected by Sandy, including 120 Oregon Red Cross volunteers and staff members. More than 1,000 Red Cross workers remain on the scene, providing food, water and emotional support to people in need.

A recently released progress report details Red Cross efforts to help people in the first three months after Sandy struck the East Coast as well as the organization’s plans for longer-term recovery efforts.

The timing, temperature and tenacity of the hurricane created a “perfect storm,” wreaking havoc on 10 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, and affecting the lives and livelihoods of millions of people. For the next several months, a big part of the Red Cross recovery effort will be working one-on-one with families who need some extra help making recovery plans and accessing available resources. Some need help finding child care or understanding insurance paperwork. Red Cross case workers will help guide them through the recovery process.

The Red Cross has received more than $254 million in donations and pledges for Sandy. By January 31, the Red Cross will have spent or made commitments to spend an estimated $145 million, and the remaining Sandy donations will be used to help individuals and communities affected by this storm with their long-term needs. This spending, which represents both direct services and support provided to other agencies, is more than half of the money received in the first three months.